February 24, 2011

San Leandro Civic Pioneer Faith Frazier Dies at 85

Faith Frazier

Former San Leandro City Councilmember Faith Frazier died on February 20, 2011, at the age of 85. Frazier was the third woman elected to the San Leandro City Council in 1974 and was re-elected in 1978 over future Mayor Dave Karp. Her husband served on the City Council from 1954 to 1960.

After graduating from UC Santa Barbara, Frazier taught in Hayward, San Leandro, and Oakland for 20 years. Frazier also wrote for The Morning News, a local newspaper, during the 1960s.

In the mid-1950s, Frazier and Harriet Engberg formed the Civic Information and Education Group (CIEG) to encourage women to get involved in city government and run for office.

During the 1960s and 1970, Frazier helped coordinate campaigns with campaign consultants Dave Hauser and Jim Zeno. In 1962, Frazier was appointed to the Library Board of Trustees, where she served until she was elected to the City Council in 1974.

Among her other civic activities:

Founding member of Bonaire Civic League

Charter member of San Leandro League of Women Voters

Charter member of the San Leandro Arts Council

Founder of Political Action Committee for Excellence (PACE), a group of women that supports women for elective office

Frazier remained active in politics into her 80s, attending the Hayward Demos Fall Fundraiser and endorsing Pauline Cutter for City Council and Measure Z. Her legacy was honored when her name was submitted as a candidate for the name of the new San Leandro High School ninth grade campus.

February 23, 2011

Souza and Gregory Mostly Re-Appoint Board and Commission Members

San Leandro District 3 Councilmember Diana Souza appointed one new Commissioner and re-appointed four others. Library-Historical Commissioner Lawrence Smith was neither re-appointed nor replaced - he is planning to move and will continue to serve until he moves or is replaced, according to the City Clerk.

Souza re-appointed Denise Abero to the Planning Commission and Janice Woychesin to the Senior Commission. Abero has been on the Planning Commission since 2007 when she was appointed by Souza. Woychesin has been on the Senior Commission for slightly more than a year.

Robert Leigh

Souza appointed Robert Leigh to the Human Services Commission. Leigh replaces Lee Thomas, who had served since 2009. Leigh is a retired probation officer who previously served four years on the Library-Historical Commission. Leigh was president of the Washington Home Owners Association from 1997 to 2009 and is on the San Lorenzo School Bond Oversight Committee.

Souza appointed Lee Thomas to the Board of Zoning Adjustments (BZA), where he replaces Darryl Shields. Shields was appointed to the BZA by Souza in 2007.

Shields was appointed to the Recreation and Parks Commission, where he replaces Debra Vandiver. Souza appointed Vandiver in 2007.

Souza was unopposed for re-election and had no campaign contributions.

In District 1, Michael Gregory re-appointed Philip Daly to BZA, Deborah Cox to the Human Services Commission, Donna Reed to the Library-Historical Commission, Dale Reed to the Planning Commission, Ed Shapiro to the Recreation and Parks Commission, and Sandi Forese to the Senior Commission. Donna Reed has served on the Library-Historical Commission since 1986 and her husband Dale has been on the Planning Commission since 1987. Shapiro was appointed to the Recreation and Parks Commission in 1996. Forese has been on the Senior Commission since 2003 while Daly and Cox were both appointed in 2007. Daly contributed $250 to Gregory's campaign while Donna Reed contributed $500.

February 22, 2011

District 5 Councilmember Cutter's Board and Commission Appointments

Councilmember Cutter's New Commission and Board Appointments

Marguerite Mazzitti

Jennifer Heystek

San Leandro District 5 Councilmember Pauline Cutter retained four of the commission and board members appointed by her predecessor, Bill Stephens. Those are Sabrina Almazan on the Human Services Commission, her partner Thomas Fitzsimmons on the Planning Commission, Peggy Combs on the Recreation and Parks Commission, and Elinor "Pat" Free on the Senior Commission. Combs had originally planned to run for the District 5 seat, but pulled out of the race three months after announcing her candidacy. Combs contributed $100 to Cutter's City Council campaign.

Cutter nominated Marguerite Mazzitti to the Board of Zoning Adjustments (BZA), where she will replace Neal Pearson, who has served on the BZA since May 2004. Mazzitti is the owner of the Tutto Mio, an importer of Italian ceramics, and was previously on the BZA from 2002-2003. She is also in the Leadership San Leandro program and a member of the Political Action Committee for Excellence (PACE). PACE contributed $1,000 to Cutter's campaign.

Jennifer Heystek was nominated by Cutter for the Library-Historical Commission, a position which is currently vacant. Heystek runs a midwifery service and served on the Youth Advisory Commission from 1996 to 2000. Heystek was employed by the City of San Leandro from 2004 to 2005 and is also a member of PACE. She and her husband Louis, who was Cutter's campaign manager, contributed $252 to Cutter's campaign.

The appointments will be voted on at tonight's meeting of the San Leandro City Council. The meeting starts at 7pm and will be held at City Hall at 835 E. 14th Street in San Leandro.

Mayor Cassidy's Appointments to Boards and Commissions

Commission and Board appointments are one way that newly-elected San Leandro Mayor Stephen Cassidy can extend his influence and repay campaign donors and supporters.

The San Leandro Mayor has one appointment each to the Board of Zoning Adjustments, Planning Commission, Library-Historical Commission, and Recreation and Parks Commission. The Mayor also has three appointments each to the Human Services Commission and Senior Commission and all five appointments to the Personnel Relations Board.

Once the Mayor submits the name of his nominees to the City Clerk, the City Clerk circulates the name to the City Council and if there are no objections, that person's nomination goes on the City Council agenda for a vote. This happened at the February 7, 2011, meeting and is done to avoid a situation in which the City Council might vote against a person's nomination and cause embarrassment for that person. The City Council approved the nominations on February 7 and are now on the February 22, 2011, agenda for City Council approval. Once a nomination makes it on to the City Council agenda, it will likely be approved.

Commission and board members frequently serve far longer than those who appointed them. Library-Historical Commissioner Donna Reed has served since 1986 and Planning Commissioner Dale Reed has served since 1987. Term limits were briefly implemented in the 1970s when term limits were also enacted for the Mayor and Councilmembers but were subsequently eliminated.

The Board of Zoning Adjustments and the Planning Commission are the most powerful of the boards and commissions and these are generally seen as "plum" appointments. Relevant campaign contributions have been included when available. In a message to supporters, Cassidy wrote, "I have sought to expand the leadership capacity of our city by bringing new persons that are active in our community into city government. I also wish to see that the diversity of San Leandro is reflected on our commissions and boards."

Mayor Stephen Cassidy nominated Janet Palma to the Board of Zoning Adjustments to replace Charles Gilcrest, who served for nearly three years. Palma works as an Environmental Health Technician for the San Francisco Department Public Health and served on the Association of Environmental Professionals Board of Directors.

Nestor Cuellas, MaryAnn Frates, and Leah Hall were nominated to the Human Services Commission to replace Corina Lopez, Suzanne Rudisill, and Alice Sarafian, who had served a year and a half, nearly 10 years, and nearly 27 years, respectively. Cuellas is an insurance salesman who served on the transit-oriented development committee, was a representative and organizer for the SEIU, and was on the boards of the Farrelly Pond Neighborhood Association and Estudillo Homeowners Association. Hall is an architect and stay-at-home mother and has served on the board of St. Paul's Episcopal School in Oakland. Hall also volunteered on Cassidy's mayoral campaign. Frates is working on her Doctorate in Education while working at the Castro Valley Unified School District as the Coordinator of Special Education.

Scott Rennie was nominated to the Planning Commission to replace Anna Claveria Brannan. Brannan served nearly four years on the Planning Commission. Rennie is an attorney for the City of Fremont and served on the Board of the Estudillo Homeowners Association. Rennie also served on Cassidy's transition committee.

Liliana Rosas-Cruz was nominated to the Library-Historical Commission to replace Frederick A. Reicker, who has served almost eight years. Rosas-Cruz works as a therapist for the East Bay Agency for Children and is a member of the National Association of Social Workers.

Johanne Dictor, Louis Heystek, Benny Lee, and James Browne were nominated to the Personnel Relations Board to replace Adan Alonzo, Hilary Van Austen, Shirley McManus and Kent Myers. Orval "OB" Badger was re-nominated and has served just over a year. Alonzo, Van Austen, McManus, and Myers have served nearly two and a half years, two and a half years, nearly 12 years, and ten years, respectively. Browne was an business litigation attorney an is a member of the Roosevelt PTA. Heystek is the Deputy CFO for Dutra Enterprises, served on the Youth Advisory Commission, served two terms on the San Leandro School Board, and is on the Board of the San Leandro Education Foundation. Dictor works for CPC International and served as President of the Estudillo Homeowners association. Dictor volunteered on Cassidy's campaign and contributed $550 to his campaign. Lee has worked at United Commercial Bank and East West Bank. Lee served on Cassidy's transition committee and was appointed by former Mayor Tony Santos to the Recreation and Parks Commission in 2007 .

Cassidy nominated Tyree Jackson to replace Benny Lee (4 years) on the Recreation and Parks Commission. Jackson works for the Castro Valley Sanitary District and was a resident manager for San Leandro rental property.

Phyllis Gee, Darlene Daevu, and Cimberly Tamura were nominated to the Senior Commission to replace George Tucker (11 years), Barbara Hamrick (11 years), and Michal J. Myers (8 months). Tamura is a retired educator, President of Alameda County Home Economics Teachers, Vice President of San Francisco Chinatown Optimists, and a Board Member of Wa Sung Community Club. Daevu works as an Administrative Analyst for the San Francisco Department of Public Health, is a member of the Professional Fiduciaries Association of California and has been active with the Allen Temple Baptist Church. Gee is also a retired educator active with the San Leandro Friends of the Library and All Saints Episcopal Church. Gee volunteered on and contributed $750 to Cassidy's campaign.

Commission and board appointees will be sworn in at the San Leandro City Council meeting on February 22, 2011. The meeting starts at 7pm and will be held at City Hall at 835 E. 14th Street in San Leandro.

February 16, 2011

Financial Disclosures of Mayor, Police Chief and New Councilmemnber

The economic disclosures of San Leandro's newest elected and appointed officials were due within 30 days of their election or appointment. These disclosures are required under the provisions of the Political Reform Act of 1974 (Gov. Code sections 81000-91014), which requires public officials to disclose their private economic interests and not to participate in decisions in which they have a financial interest.

Those subject to the reporting requirement must file the Statement of Economic Interests (Form 700) upon election or appointment, annually by April 1, and upon leaving office. Certain city staff, including the Police Chief, are also required to file these documents. These are public documents on file at the City Clerk's office at City Hall and are available to anyone who requests them for $0.10 per page.

The Assuming Office Statement of Economic Interests of San Leandro Mayor Stephen Cassidy, Councilmember Pauline Cutter, and San Leandro Police Chief Sandra Spagnoli are available by clicking on the following links:

February 7, 2011

Final District 1 City Council 2010 Campaign Reports

Incumbent Michael Gregory defeated opponents David Anderon and Carol Libbrecht (a write-in candidate) in the race for the District 1 San Leandro City Council seat, and raised the most money during the last reporting period from October 17 to December 31, 2010. Most of Gregory's $3,248 came from a $2,400 personal loan to his campaign. Anderson filed his final financial report on February 4, 2011. Libbrecht was not required to file financial disclosures because she neither raised nor spent more than $1,000.

Gregory raised a total of $13,552 during the campaign while Anderson raised $6,013.

Semi-annual campaign statements for active campaign accounts were due February 1, 2011 and are summarized below.

Michael Gregory

Gregory reported $734 on hand at the end of the reporting period with no outstanding debt. Gregory's contributions included

$250 from Alameda County Industries owner Robert Molinaro
$150 from Simon and Company, the City of San Leandro's lobbyist in Washington, DC

February 2, 2011

Final District 5 City Council 2010 Campaign Reports

Pauline Cutter may have won the race for the District 5 San Leandro City Council seat, but her opponent, Corina Lopez, raised the most money during the last reporting period from October 17 to December 31, 2010. Nearly all of Lopez' $10,506 in contributions were from $10,382 she loaned to her campaign. Cutter raised $1,691.

Cutter raised a total of $19,576 during the campaign while Lopez raised $32,567, including personal loans to her campaign totaling $23,503. Cutter won the race with 53.14% of the vote to Lopez' 45.79%.

Semi-annual campaign statements for active campaign accounts were due February 1, 2011, and are summarized below.

Pauline Cutter

Cutter reported $1,221 on hand at the end of the reporting period with no outstanding debt. Cutter's contributions included:

Final Mayoral Campaign Reports for 2010

The final financial statements for the 2010 San Leandro Mayor campaigns show that Joyce Starosciak raised a total of $16,513 during the reporting period from October 17, 2010 to December 31, 2010, including a $5,000 loan from Starotech, her business. Former Mayor Tony Santos raised $3,774, including a $1,000 personal loan to his campaign while Mayor Stephen Cassidy raised $5,608, including a $2,950 personal loan to his campaign.

Together, Cassidy, Santos, and Starosciak raised a total of $185,795 for the mayoral campaign, which stretches back to 2009. Starosciak, who finished third in the November 2010 election, raised $82,636, the most of all candidates. However, if you subtract the $21,589 of Starosciak's funds that came from the campaign account she used when she ran for City Council, she raised $61,047, just $3,000 more than Santos. Santos followed with $58,050 and then Cassidy, with $45,109.

Santos spent $37,314 on consultants, the most of all the mayoral candidates. Starosciak was next with $26,454, not including $5,000 spent on polling, and Cassidy was last, with no funds spent on consultants.

There are no campaign contribution limits in San Leandro, so individuals and businesses may contribute any amount of money to local campaigns. Donations of $99 or less do not have to be itemized, but candidates are required to report the source of any donation of $100 or greater.

Semi-annual campaign statements for active campaign accounts were due February 1, 2011, and are summarized below. No campaign statement from Sara Mestas had been filed as of February 2. Reports from Lou Filipovich and John Palau were not required since neither candidate raised nor spent more than $1,000.

Joyce Starosciak

Starosciak reported $59 in her campaign account at the end of the reporting period and $5,000 in campaign debt from a loan from her business, Starotech. Significant contributions included: